Des Moines chicken farmers question proposed 15-fowl limit in city

Visit the urban farm of Grant and Allison Stuart in Des Moines' Drake neighborhood, where they grow their own food and raise their own chickens.

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The 85 chickens sit at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa's Second Chance Ranch Monday, July 10, 2017. They were recovered in connection with a suspected cockfighting operation on Des Moines East side.
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Sgt. Jim Butler, chief humane officer for the Des Moines Police Department, said complaints drove animal control to propose the changes. Animal control received 39 complaints for crowing roosters and 75 other fowl-related complaints between March and September of this year, Butler said.

But urban chicken farmers who showed up to Monday's meeting argued that a limit of 15 chickens would be hard to meet because local hatcheries typically only sell chicks in orders of 25.

Jodi Holt, whose family runs Des Moines Feed, said that limit typically pertains to hatcheries selling chickens for butchering. Her store doesn't have a limit, she said, but it's not recommended to raise one or two alone because they're "flock birds."

"It's nice to have as many as two dozen sometimes because there are plenty of neighbors who love those eggs," said Ed Fallon of Des Moines who said he's raised chickens in the city for over 20 years. "The 15 (limit) seems pretty random for me."

Butler said animal control officers respond to complaints about noise, chickens running loose in neighborhoods and smells coming from chicken coops. Noise complaints involving chickens are second only to barking dogs, he said.

The ban on roosters is designed to cut down on noise complaints, but it could also help the city curb cockfighting rings, Butler said. In July, animal control officers removed 85 birds from a suspected cockfighting operation on the east side.

"It could certainly benefit us so we don’t have rooster fighting in Des Moines," Butler said.

He estimates that hundreds of properties in Des Moines have domestic chickens, but the true number is unclear. Unlike dogs and cats, the city does not require chicken licenses.

Butler said he also wants to simplify the city's rules on backyard chickens. Right now, information is spread across three sections of the city code.

"It’s not only confusing our citizens but it’s making it somewhat difficult for us for enforcement actions because it can be quite ambiguous," Butler said.

He is not proposing any changes to the penalties for offenders who exceed the number of birds permitted. A violation can trigger a simple misdemeanor.

The city council did not take any action on the proposal, as is customary at a workshop. But it's likely the ordinance will be considered at a future city council meeting. Ordinances typically take three readings to pass.

Around the metro

Des Moines allows up to 30 chickens on residential properties anywhere in the city with several conditions, including distance and cleanliness standards.

West Des Moines allows chickens in residential estate zones, which typically include lots larger than one acre. Residents also must apply for a $600 conditional use permit.

Johnston allows two chickens on properties larger than a half-acre.

Windsor Heights allows two chickens on any residential property.

Ankeny, Altoona, Urbandale and Waukee do not allow chickens in residential neighborhoods.